Tick for attendance

Reading pupils play hookey less regularly than their counterparts around the country.

Recent figures show the borough’s rate of persistent absence – being off more than 20 per cent of the time – is among the lowest in the country, particularly when compared to their statistical neighbours.

These are local authorities, including Brighton and Hove, with a similar make-up.

The percentage of persistent absentees in primaries and secondaries is 2.5 per cent compared with a national figure of four per cent.

This ranks Reading second best at attendance compared to all other authorities in England and first when compared to its statistical neighbours.

Reading has also shown improvements in the overall absence figures for both primaries and secondaries with a decrease of 0.6 percentage points to 5.75 per cent absence compared with a national figure of 6.49 per cent.

This ranks the town 10th compared with all other local authorities in England and second compared to our statistical neighbours.

Jon Hartley, lead councillor for education and lifelong learning, said: “These impressive figures are a real tribute to the work going on in Reading schools, which are working very hard in close partnership with our Education Welfare Service to ensure children achieve very good attendance.”